The two trade groups agree to exchange web links, publications and reports, business and market information; as well as supporting each other’s trade shows and international conferences, according to the agreement.

Qian Yao En, executive vice president of China Plastics Machinery Industry Association, said: “We believe the strengthened communication and collaboration between SPI and CPMIA will help promote the growth of the plastics industries in both countries.

“Now we have an overarching framework, we look forward to starting the activities and initiatives.

“China already is the largest manufacturer of plastics machinery in the world. We are striving to continue to advance the technologies and become a leading power in the global industry.”

Commenting on trade and export, he added that it’s important for national associations to better communicate on industry standards in different markets and help their member firms to understand and meet the standards.

SPI officials said they believe the CMPIA agreement will build stronger ties.

‘’From my standpoint, this [memorandum] has the potential to facilitate more trade, more business between our members and their members,’’ said Michael Taylor, SPI’s senior director of international trade.

‘’We have opportunities for encouraging member networking which can lead to other really substantial things like matchmaking and joint ventures,’’ he said. ‘’Those are very meaningful.’’

Taylor, for example, said SPI has better information about the economic situation of the U.S. industry than the American government, in part because the trade association gathers data about plastics manufacturing that happens within large companies that are not specifically plastic-oriented.

‘’We’re supposed to be the best people at producing such information,’’ he said. ‘’I know at least on our side we do a better job than the U.S. government in telling the story of the U.S. plastics industry because of captives. I would assume on their side they are better too.’’

He said SPI wants to build dialogue with the Chinese groups. He noted that next year is the 20th anniversary for CPMIA, and he said SPI could send a representative to board meetings related to that.

‘’For there to be an SPI representative to be at there to speak to their members is a good opportunity and that sort of dialogue is a good idea,’’ Taylor said.

SPI also signed a memorandum of understanding on April 1 at NPE2012 with the China Plastics Processing Industry Association.